SCOTLAND'S Bruce and his old enemy Edward II have been recreated using cutting-edge technology and will appear in full-height at the Bannockburn centre, which opens to the public next month.

The character of Bruce was based on the statue of the king on battlefield

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THEY stand tall, brave and ready to do battle again... Scotland’s Bruce and English adversary Edward II.

Robert the Bruce, his loyal lieutenant Sir James Douglas and their old enemy have been brought back to life using Hollywood-style technology.

Today, we can reveal their brand new 3D likenesses ahead of their unveiling at the £9million Battle of Bannockburn centre, which opens to the public next month.

The medieval king and his devoted knight have been painstakingly recreated using digital wizardry and will appear in full-height interactive glory at the new attraction near Stirling.

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Actor David Hayman provides the voice for the commander Sir James – known as the Black Douglas in testimony to his formidable reputation – and he hasn’t held back on the spine-chilling effects.

He said: “I want to scare the weans. I hope they’re terrified by the Black Douglas.

“He was a scary character and absolutely ruthless so I’ve put on my deepest, darkest growly voice.”

The centre is being opened in time to mark the 700th anniversary of Scotland’s famous victory over the English in 1314 and the exhibition uses state-of-the-art electronics to transport visitors deep into the heart of 14th century warfare.

Worldwide interest in the ground-breaking exhibition means that project partners, the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland, are selling timed tickets for the official opening of the centre on March 1.

Game of Thrones favourite James Cosmo, who provides the voice for Robert the Bruce, and Trial and Retribution star Hayman are hoping to be among the crowds getting the first glimpse of history reimagined.

Hayman said: “I knew about the famous and fascinating character that was the Black Douglas but like most people I wasn’t taught Scottish history at school.

“I was taught about the Battle of Hastings and things like that. Very little about Scotland.

“At least that’s been put right over the last few years and kids are being taught Scottish history now.

“But I hope they’ll be able to go into the Bannockburn centre and see it all come alive before them.

“It’s important to mark an historic event like this one and I think they’ve done it well, really stylishly.

Actor David Hayman says our kids should learn more about Scots history like Bannockburn (Photo: Handout)

While David provides the voice for Black Douglas, the character’s features are actually modelled on a primary school teacher from Edinburgh.

Philip Wilson, 35, was one of hundreds of people who responded to a public call for volunteers to have their faces scanned to become one of the 3D characters featured at Bannockburn.

Only six were chosen in the end, including an English woman and a Welsh man, to represent the role played in the battle by people from all parts of the UK, some fought with the Scots while others joined the forces of Edward II.

Their features were copied by 3D modellers at Glasgow School of Art then motion-capture techniques – similar to those used for Hollywood special effects –recorded a range of facial expressions to bring the characters to life.

Philip, who teaches at St Joseph’s Primary in Edinburgh, said: “I’m really passionate about Scottish history and I’ve taught my pupils about the wars of independence.

“I sent an email off to apply to take part but I couldn’t believe it when they told me they wanted to model Sir James Douglas on my face.

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“He was a great character, really scary. People used to say to children, ‘If you don’t behave, the Black Douglas will get you.’

“It’s a bit strange looking at yourself with battle scars.

English king Edward II looks impressive in his armour.. but was sent homeward to think again (Photo: Handout)

“They’ve also given me a middle parting and made me a bit taller but I’ve shown my wife and my mum and they seem to think it looks like me.

“Even my two-year-old daughter recognised me.

“I’m really proud to have been immortalised like this. I could be there for another 700 years.”

The Bruce’s 3D image is not based on a 21st century volunteer but instead was modelled on the famous statue of the king on horseback which stands at the battle site.

It’s believed to be an accurate representation as 1960s sculptor, Pilkington Jackson, used measurements from Bruce’s skull to build the likeness.

Chris Walker, of exhibition designers Bright White, said: “Standing face-to-face with characters from the battlefield is a powerful way to learn about the battle.

“The characters include a truly fearsome local alewife and an alluring female spy. There were a wide range of reasons why people got swept up in the fight.”